Similar-looking marks can come from different mechanisms. False brinelling is associated with small repetitive movements at contacts; permanent indentation involves local deformation. Record standstill vibration, transport history and mounting loads before choosing a remedy.
Use the illustration to locate the kind of feature being discussed, not to certify the condition of a real part.
Schematic: depressions in a contact track; depth exaggerated.
Indentation / brinell dents
Debris trapped in rolling contact can indent a surface. Shock or excessive loading can also leave dents; mounting impacts may produce marks at element spacing.
Checks & easily confused patterns
Evidence to investigate
Record debris, handling and transport events, assembly-force paths and the spacing of marks.
Do not infer from appearance alone
Repeated marks alone cannot separate indentation from false brinelling. Compare surface condition and loading history before naming the mechanism.
Schematic: local wear hollows at repeated contact positions.
False brinelling
Small repeated movement can wear hollows at rolling-element contact positions, including during standstill vibration or small-angle oscillation.
Checks & easily confused patterns
Evidence to investigate
Separate running history from transport, storage and standby vibration. Record the surface texture and lubrication condition.
Do not infer from appearance alone
This is not simply another name for impact indentation. Similar spacing is possible in different mechanisms; there is no universal transport or rotation schedule.
Schematic: small reversing movement and local wear debris.
Fretting / fretting corrosion
Repeated small sliding movements can cause wear at fits or rolling contacts; associated debris may appear reddish-brown or dark.
Checks & easily confused patterns
Evidence to investigate
Document the exact damaged interface and small-motion history. Check the relevant fit and lubrication condition.
Do not infer from appearance alone
Fretting is not identical to moisture corrosion or sustained ring creep. False brinelling is a contact-position wear pattern within this small-motion context.
Technical basis: NSK Bearing Doctor, individual damage-type references. Original BearingScope illustrations and investigation prompts, reviewed 4 October 2026. Colour, shape and depth are illustrative; source snapshots are retained in the internal audit.
Original BearingScope workflow, written for catalogue research and comparison. Manufacturer material is used to check principles, not copied as a product endorsement or substituted for model-specific instructions. Reviewed 1 October 2026.
NSK Bearing ABCs — Damage and countermeasures — Rolling bearing damage patterns; symptoms alone are not a diagnosis
JTEKT Basic Bearing Knowledge — Maintenance and inspection — Inspection, cleaning and reuse assessment
Source addresses and collection status are retained in the internal audit. No unpublished dimensions, torque settings, service intervals or interchange approvals are inferred.
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